Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-14
BEAVERS AT WORK.
HOW THE GEOLOGICAL GARDEN FAM
 ILY PREPARE FOR WINTER.

HOW THE GEOLOGICAL GARDEN FAM
 ILY PREPARE FOR WINTER. An Old Grayback Plugging Away a
 Maple Log-The Family to the Rc>-
 Beavers.
 "You would be surprised at the intelligence shown by these animals. Some of them seem to be almost human, they are so clever"
 And industriousFn
 ''More industrious than many people. Just now they are begging away day and night. Uenally they work at night only, but this Is building time, and as there seems to be SLOW in the air they are hustling double time 10 get their winter quarters in order. Just look at that fellow trying to roll down that big log there"
 And Headlzeeper Byrne, of the Geological garden, leaned over the iron railing round the beaver pond, his fine face lighted up with interest, as he watched the quaint, hairy creatures so hard at work. The log was heavy limb of a maple tree. It lay upon the bank yard or two from the water. It was almost as thick and three times as long as the beaver that was endeavoring to move it. The animal pushed with all his strength, but vainly. He stopped, half hopelessly, walked round and round the log, then squatting re- signedly on his launches uttered low cry. Instantly another creature poked its snout just above the waters surface and waited. The cry was repeated and the animal in the pond struck out for the shore, reached it, and scrambled on the bank.
 'sThat's old graybacks mate," said MT. Byrne. "The two of them will work the log together" And they tried it. But it was a tre- mendous job. An animal got on each side and showed with their noses and fore feet for all they were worth. But the log didn't budge an inch. Still they pushed and tugged and tussled.
 ''I imagine they'll give it up," said the re- porter
 'egad, not now; for here comes their two ht- tie ones"
 THE WHOLE FAMILY OUT.
 As he spoke two young beavers that had been swimming rapidly across the pond clambered out on the bank and each took a ! turn at the end of the maple bough. All four, taking a sort of bark from old gray back as a signal, started in simultaneously. Just the least little bit did the log move, but enough to encourage the beavers to dash at | it with a will A little more it gave; then more aud more. Presently it struck a deep | decline in the bank and began to roll down. The beavers were on it, tugging and push | ing. In moment or two more it was at the bottom and lying on the narrow, flat surface round the edge of the pond Before the mo- mentum had altogether left it the beavers were on it again, making their last big squirt And in another second-splash! it tumbled over into the water. The delighted beavers | sprang on it all at once For the rest it was as smooth as soap, and with Graybeard lead | ing on one side and his mate on the other and the two little ones pushing at the other end the big log went through the water like ( fast yacht before the wind.
 The beavers got it over to hut made oi | boughs and mud in the middle of the stream They laboriously pushed it up half out of the water, and satisfied that it was safe set off il quest of other material. The hut was nearly the size of an Indian wigwam and much ths same in shape. It was made of many layer. i of sticks logs and mud. The flooring was o logs, supported just above the water on othel logs and stones. The boughs of trees anc broken sticks were showing through tn, ] mad. But that is because the house was no | complete When it reaches a size grea enough to satisfy the animals they will tak' one good day and night to give it 0 finishing touch, and walking over it will smooth ou the mud with their broad, flat tails as nicely as if the work was done with trowel
 And what is greatly to the credit of tn animals, while all the beavers in the pono work upon the hut, the house Is really in tended to be the quarters only of the grand father and grandmother beavers in the col ony. All the young ones have their owI abodes, and the ground all about the pond i burrowed deep with subterranean privat ! residences.
 AN ENTERPRISING COUPLE.
 Two beavers on one occasion burrowed home for themselves thirty-four feet unde
 the pathway round the pond When the ho ! 1eonle discovered the fact they had n har,